“And another intense hydro-pump attack from Alexis’ Tentacool! This time Lily’s Gastly didn’t have any luck dodging the attack.” The announcer’s voice rang over the speaker system as the two trainers went head to head with their final Pokémon, Lily’s Gastly versus her opponent’s Tentacool. Gastly was her last Pokémon of the three she had chosen to bring into this battle and she was practically hanging over the edge of her high-rise platform as she watched her Gastly struggle on the ground. 

“Gastly!” She called out ready to jump over the railing to go out and comfort her hurt friend. This was bad, bad because the Tentacool was not letting up on its attack as he continued to hit the fallen ghost Pokémon with hydro-pump. 

Soon the water stopped and the Tentacool backed off, his face looking rather smug and proud that the ghost Pokémon laid there on the ground motionless. “The referee has begun the count down. The match is over in three… two… wait, wait what’s this?!”

On the field the ghost Pokémon began to glow. Lily’s eyes expanding as she fumbled to find her book in her back pocket of her blue jeans. Grabbing it she flipped to a tabbed page and began to read. “Gastly’s second stage is known as ‘Haunter’. Haunter is a dangerous Pokémon. If one beckons you while floating in darkness, you must never approach it. This Pokémon will try to lick you with its tongue and steal your life away.” Her gaze turned up as she watched her Gastly float off the ground and change into a ball of light.

“This is a first in a long time folks! An evaluation on field is completely legal in tournaments. This is certainly a change in events!” The announcer seemed as excited as the crowd who began to roar at the sight of the new Pokémon.

“Haunter!” Lily called out, getting the Pokémon’s attention. He seemed far happier to see her as he began to float his way towards her with open hands just like when he was a Gastly. “No no buddy, we gotta finish this first.” She said to him pointing towards the shivering Tentacool. “Haunter use Night Shade!”

“Hhhhaaaunnnntttttt!” The ghost Pokémon called out holding his hands out in front of him. The entire field was covered with a black fog. The figures of the two Pokémon were barely visible through the blackness. At first the Tentacool looked calm but then he began to panic going back and forth on the field, the onlookers only able to make out the panicking silhouette. The ghost Pokémon hovered right behind him the entire time. When the darkness settled, the Tentacool quacked in his spot and Haunter reached down behind him, touching the Tentacool’s head gently with a bright smile across his purple face. 

“TENT!” The Tentacool screamed out in terror before fainting on the ground and the count began, Haunter looking down confused at his opponent. 

[b]BUZZ[/b] The alarm went off and the announcement came over the speaker system, “And the winner is Lily and her Gas… I mean Haunter!”

“Hurrah!” The blonde yelled as she jumped into the air in excitement. When the platform finally lowered she dashed out onto the field and hugged her Haunter only to have him lick her on the side of the face causing all of her long hair to stand upright from her head. Her entire body shivered from the feeling and shook slightly. “Ugggghhhh… You know better…” He lightly scolded the Haunter who just tilted his head in response. “Fine, I’ll let you off the hook this once. Good job buddy.” She said with a grin as she returned the happy Pokémon to his ball before he decided to try to lick her again. 

Before she straightened her hair she shook hands with her opponent and they posed for a picture together as they do at the end of every battle. Lovely hairstyle but hey… it was fun. 

Soon she was at the traveling Pokecenter that was healing the Pokémon involved in the tournament. She placed her three she had used on the dock and watched them disappear into the healing machine. Finally she had a moment to sit down on a nearby branch and drink a bottle of water as she forced her hair back down. You’d think she just touched a light socket. Silly ghost Pokémon.